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Presenting The Top 30 Women in Food of 2025
Lunchbox is proud to present the Top 30 Women in Food of 2025, a powerful recognition of 30 visionary women shaping the future of the restaurant and hospitality industries.
Curated through the lens of those who work within the industry, this list honors the women who are shaping the future of food and hospitality with innovation, leadership, and impact.
Alice Crowder, Krispy Krunchy
Alice is known for her creativity and strategic insights, driving brand revitalization and consumer loyalty through impactful marketing initiatives throughout her career and most notably as CEO at Krispy Krunchy.
Alice Elliot, The Elliot Group
Founder and CEO of The Elliot Group, Alice is a premier advisor in executive search and human resources, with over 35 years of experience connecting top talent with leading organizations in the restaurant, hospitality, retail, lifestyle, and service industries.
Britni DeLeon & Kasia Bednarz, FARE
Co-founders of FARE, a healthy fast-casual restaurant chain in Chicago, Britni and Kasia are dedicated to providing accessible, nutritious, and delicious dining options, leveraging her passion for culinary innovation and community engagement.
Carey Malloy, Hawaiian Bros
As Chief Financial Officer and Chief Development Officer at Hawaiian Bros Island Grill, Carey drives strategic growth, financial performance, and team leadership. With a strong focus on strategy and development, she plays a key role in scaling the brand and ensuring long-term success.
Cathy Chavenet, Paris Baguette
As Chief Marketing Officer at Paris Baguette, Cathy brings her career of extensive experience in marketing, operations, and management. With a proven track record of developing and executing innovative strategies, she drives sales growth and ensures the brand’s continued success.
Dr. Emily Williams Knight, Texas Restaurant Association
President and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, Emily brings over two decades of leadership in hospitality and education, advocating passionately for industry-wide policy and workforce development.
Felicia White, Ascent Hospitality Management
Dr. Felicia White, Ed.D., CHT, is a distinguished leader in the hospitality industry, currently serving as the President of the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART) and as Vice President of Learning and Leadership Development at Ascent Hospitality Management.
Jennifer Dodd, Main Squeeze Juice
Jennifer is a global executive with 30+ years of experience in franchising, leading turnarounds, expansions, and market entry across QSR, casual dining, retail foodservice, and education brands. She excels at driving strategic growth and delivering shareholder value across North America and international markets.
Jennifer Somers, CAVA
Jennifer is the Chief Operating Officer at CAVA, where she has played a key role in the brand’s significant growth over the past three years. With over 20 years of experience in operational and strategic leadership across industries ranging from aerospace to restaurants, she excels at leading large teams, optimizing operations, and driving digital innovation. Passionate about lean thinking and operational excellence, Jennifer is dedicated to scaling businesses and enhancing efficiency in fast-growing environments.
Julie Mulligan Barish, Black Tap
Julie is a partner at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer where she is passionate about driving innovation, strategic thinking, and guest experience for the brand.
Julie Zucker, Branded Hospitality Ventures
As Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Branded Hospitality, Julie leads marketing and communications while supporting portfolio companies from pipeline to investment and growth. A recognized industry expert, she has been featured in Forbes, Food Business News, The Wall Street Journal, and was named one of Business Insider's Top 28 Foodtech Power Players in 2022. She also produces the The Hospitality Hangout Podcast and serves on the boards of FSR and QSR Women in Restaurant Leadership and the LEAD program.
Jyoti Lynch, Smoothie King
Chief Information Officer at Smoothie King, Jyoti is recognized for leveraging technology innovation to improve guest experiences and franchise profitability, with deep expertise in digital solutions.
Kate Trumbull, Domino's
As Global Chief Marketing Officer at Domino's, Kate is recognized for her innovative approach to enhancing the brand and product innovation, consistently leveraging technology and strategic advertisement to reach new customers and deepen existing customer relationships. She has won many awards, including ADWEEK Marketing Vanguard Award Winner (2024), Joyce Ivy Leader of the Year (2024), Nation's Restaurant News Power List (2024), Business Insider’s Most Innovative CMO’s (2023) and more.
Kelly Esten, Toast
Kelly Esten is the Chief Marketing Officer at Toast, where she has been since 2017. Previously, she served as SVP and GM of Enterprise and led marketing across product, pricing, insights, and partnerships. Before Toast, she held leadership roles at EnerNOC and UBS. She holds an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth and a B.A. in Environmental Science from Dartmouth College.
Korey Love Taylor, Taco John’s
Korey is the Director of Digital Engagement at Taco John’s, where she leads efforts to deepen customer relationships through digital channels. With seven years of experience in digital engagement and transformation within the restaurant and hospitality industry, she specializes in leveraging technology to enhance customer experiences and drive brand loyalty.
Kristen Hohl, SPB Hospitality
Kristen is the SVP of Marketing at SPB Hospitality, the leading operator and franchisor of full-service dining restaurants, spanning a national footprint of hundreds of restaurants and breweries. With previous restaurant experience, including O’Charleys and Logans Roadhouse, Kristen has revolutionized SPB Hospitality in just five years.
LaShonda Williams, Askar Management Group
As Senior Director of Operations at Askar Brands, a world-class, multi-brand, multi-unit franchisee, who has experienced explosive growth with nationally recognized first-in-class brands, LaShonda is responsible for ensuring operational efficiency across the portfolio.
Lauren Lumbley, BRIX Holdings
Lauren is the VP of Marketing at BRIX Holdings, bringing expertise in strategy, operations, and marketing program execution. With previous roles at Friendly’s and Dickey’s Barbecue, she has a track record of driving growth, optimizing marketing operations, and leading cross-functional teams to enhance brand performance.
Lauriena Borstein, WOWorks
As Chief Operating Officer of WOWorks, a leading brand on a mission to help guests pursue their passions and live their best lives by serving healthy, nutritious and flavorful meals, Lauriena is responsible for all operations and improving guest experience through innovation.
Lyndsey Patel, MOD Pizza
As VP of Restaurant Marketing at MOD Pizza, Lyndsey brings experience from fast-casual, QSR, and CPG brands. She has driven growth at Sonic Drive-In, Raising Cane’s, and Kaldi’s Coffee, specializing in new market entry, media, PR, and local restaurant marketing.
Melissa Hariri, Dine Brands
As Vice President of Communications at Dine Brands, Melissa specializes in brand storytelling and reputation management, leading communications to foster meaningful guest connections.
Mira Stsiapanau, Eggs Up Grill
As VP of Operations and Training, Mira is responsible for enhancing guest experience as well as operational efficiency and satisfaction around all Eggs Up locations. With previous restaurant experience including Denny’s and Popeyes, Mira is an expert in growing brands within the space.
Natalie Green, Nekter Juice Bar
As the first Chief Operating Officer of Nekter Juice Bar, Natalie Green brings her expertise to the juice and smoothie space by leading the 300+ store brand with excellent operational efficiency and guest satisfaction. Natalie has been with the brand this 2011, scaling Nekter and bringing it to market country-wide.
Sarika Attal, Papa John's International
As VP of Enterprise Architecture, Restaurant & Technology, Sarika is an expert in scalable technology solutions and digital transformation, continually enhancing consumer and operator experiences.
Satyne Doner, WiRL, QSR, and FSR Magazines
Associate Editor for Women in Restaurant Leadership at QSR, and FSR magazines, Satyne is dedicated to elevating women leaders across foodservice through insightful storytelling and strategic content creation. With a deep passion for the restaurant industry and a commitment to empowering voices, she brings a fresh perspective shaped by her background in journalism, leadership, and advocacy.
Shannon Hennessy, Habit Burger & Grill
As CEO of Habit Burger & Grill, Shannon is leading the brand’s growth in the better-burger category. She is focused on scaling its cook-to-order expertise, modernizing off-premise dining, and driving industry-leading margins to position the chain as a global powerhouse.
Shayla Simmons, Bojangles
From Krispy Kreme to Bojangles, Shayla is a leader in digital engagement and transformation within the restaurant industry. She brings her expertise in lifecycle marketing to the brand and enriches the guest experience through technology and innovation.
Sonika Patel, P.F. Changs
Sonika is the Chief Marketing Officer of P.F. Chang’s, with 20 years of experience driving growth through brand repositioning, digital transformation, and innovation. She has led marketing for Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Cadbury, Ticketmaster, and DoorDash, specializing in integrated campaigns and partnerships. Passionate about mentoring startups, she is dedicated to shaping the future of brand marketing.
Suzie Tsai, Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken
As CEO of Bonchon, Suzie is leading the brand’s growth and innovation on the global stage. With expertise in brand strategy, strategic partnerships, and integrated marketing, she brings a wealth of experience across entertainment, hospitality, telecommunications, and technology from On The Border and Brinker International. Suzie is passionate about driving brand excellence and expanding Bonchon’s presence through creative and strategic initiatives.
Tabassum Zalotrawala, McDonald's
As Chief Development Officer, Tabassum brings extensive experience in restaurant development and brand growth. Previously, she served as Chief Development Officer at Chipotle and Panda Restaurant Group, leading real estate strategy and design innovation. With a background in QSR from Arby’s and executive education from Harvard Business School, she is a recognized industry leader, serving on multiple boards and championing community-driven initiatives.
Tisha Bartlett, Fazioli’s
As VP of Marketing at Fazioli’s, Tisha turns visions into realities through meaningful storytelling and best-in-class campaigns. She seeks to create deep connections with customers while driving acquisition and conversions to exceed business objectives.
Congratulations to our Top 30 Women in Food
As we close out this year’s Top 30 Women in Food list, we are honored to recognize the nominees and winners who continue to inspire and drive change in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Their leadership, innovation, and resilience pave the way for a more inclusive and forward-thinking future.
To this year’s honorees—congratulations! Your impact is shaping the industry in powerful ways. And to our Top 30 Women in Food alumni, we celebrate your ongoing contributions and leadership.
Want to explore past winners? Click here.
How the List is Created
Each year, Lunchbox opens nominations to the public, gathering 60 finalists who move on to a voting round for the final Top 30 Women in Food list. The nomination and voting phases each remain open for two weeks, allowing the industry and the public to recognize those making a meaningful impact. Final selections are based on public votes and industry influence.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s list—your support helps elevate and celebrate the women shaping the future of food.
Methodology
Lunchbox opens up nominations annually to source 60 final nominees that enter a voting round for our Top 30 Women in Food industry list. Each round, both nominations and voting, is open for two weeks for public submissions. Once public votes are collected, candidates are evaluated and selected based on public popularity.
